The Germans are undoubtedly giving up.

The artillery in the night shakes the doors. At dusk,
twenty some inexpressibly violent explosions
(an important ammunition depot went up): I felt the shock
of the air between my legs and shoulders. Seven kilometers away,
the flames lit up the sky. I saw one of the explosions from the rocks.

On the horizon, immense red and blinding flames rise up in black smoke.
The forest horizon is the same as three months ago: At that time
I lamented a lack of imagination.
Then I couldn’t imagine the destruction and laceration of a battle
in this beautiful countryside
(like an ocean of trees animated by immense slow waves).
Today I saw vast fires, three or four places where canons raged,
overcome finally by these colossal sounds of explosions.

But the children were laughing on the rocks.
The calmness of the world remains unshaken.

–excerpt On Nietzsche, August 1944 Epilogue, by Georges Bataille, trans. by Stuart Kendall p. 159

In the summer of 1944 Bataille observes the retreat of the occupying Germans from a vantage point of rocks at the edge of a countryside forest outside of Paris.

We experience life and world as a succession of endings and beginnings.  Circumstances and events can be described from various points of view.  Bataille describes the activity of German artillery (raging canon) which is then silenced by counter battery fire.  War is a human activity, serving up death wholesale.

Tomorrow, Saturday is the last day of 2022.  An ending followed by a beginning.  I’d like to keep the last line of Bataille’s quotation in mind.

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I have a song in mind.  Purple Rain by Prince is right for today.  The tune is about beginnings and endings.  The silence as preface to the dedication and performance, is thunder — speaking of the pathos of our  condition.

Purple Rain

By Prince

I never meant to cause you any sorrow
I never meant to cause you any pain
I only wanted one time to see you laughing
I only want to see you laughing in the purple rain

Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain

I only want to see you bathing in the purple rain

I never wanted to be your weekend lover
I only wanted to be some kind of friend
Baby, I could never steal you from another
It’s such a shame our friendship had to end

Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain

I only want to see you underneath the purple rain

Honey I know, I know, I know times are changing
It’s time we all reach out for something new
That means you too
You say you want a leader
But you can’t seem to make up your mind
I think you better close it
And let me guide you to the purple rain

Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain

If you know what I’m singing about up here
C’mon, raise your hand

Purple rain, purple rain

I only want to see you, only want to see you
In the purple rain

Lyrics by Prince (1958-2016)